Cushion for boots and shoes.



PATENTED SEPT. 8, 1908.

F. P. MGINTYRE.

CUSHION FOR BOOTS AND SHOES.

APPLIOATION FILED AUG. 11,

Figi.

erspective view of a similarly modified composed, this cutting away ofthe cells at UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEEioE.

FRANK P. MCINTYRE, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

`CUSHION' FOR BOOTS AND SHOES.

Application led August 11,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, vFRANK P. MCINTYRE, a citizen of the United States,residing in Philadel hia, Pennsylvania, have invented certain inrovements in Cushions for Boots o r Shoes, o which the following is aspecification. v

The object of m invention is to provide a sponge rubber cus ion for thesole or heel of a boot or shoe, which cushion will be of a moreacceptable character than those heretofore made. This object I attain inthe manner hereinafter set forth, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, in which l' Figure 1 is a perspective view of asponge rubber cushion made in accordance with my invention and intendedfor the insole of a boot or shoe; Fig. 2 is a similar view of a heelcushion; Fig'. 3 is a perspective view of another form of sole cushionembodying certain features of my invention; Fig. 4 is a orm of the heelcushion; Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section of the sole cushion shown inFig. 1; Fig. 6 is a transverse section of the same; Fig. 7 is alongitudinal section of the heel cushion shown in Fig. 2; Fig. 8 is atransverse section of the same; Fig. 9 vis a view of av strip from whichheel cushions of the character shown in Fig. 4 may be cut;v Fig. 10 is alongitudinal sectional view of a slip insole in the making of which myimproved heel and sole cushions have been employed, and Fig. 11 is asctionalview, illustrating a special form of heel cushion embodying mymvention.

Priorv to my invention sponge rubber has been made only in relativelylarge or thick masses, and, in order to adapt this material for use as aAcushion for a boot or shoe insole or heel pad, it was necessary to cutthe thick mass into strips of the relatively thin character needed forsuch uses. Not only is the cutting of the sponge rubber lnass adifficult matter because of -its elastic nature and its irregularcellular formation, but the strips thus prepared are' alsounsatisfactory because the surface cells are all open and therefore donot retain the air, and, as the cushion effect of s )onge rubber dependslargely upon the volume of air confined in the innumerable cells ofwhich the material is the faces of the stripV materially detracts fromthe elasticity of the pad or cushion.

Spcification of-Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 8, 1908.

190e. seria Nofaaouez.

In carrying out my invention, therefore, I f

usual method of pre aring sponge rubber cushions for boots an shoes.

The sole'cushion shown in Fig. 1 is beveled on its upper face at theheel end of the cushion as indicated at 3, and the heel cushion islikewise beveled on its under face at the .front as indicated at 4M inorder that the cushions may overlap each other when applied to the bootor shoe, and I also by preference form in the top of the heel cushion arecess or depression 5 for the reception of that portion of the heelupon which the greatest amount of thrust is exerted in walking, therebyserving to equalize the pressure upon all portions of the heel and thusrender the heel pad better able to perform its intended function thanone presenting a flat face.

The, rubber facing of close texture extends not only throughout thebeveled portions of the heel and sole cushion, but also throughout thedepression or recess in the top of the heel cushion. It is advisable inmany cases to bevel also the outer edge portion of the sole cushion andthe lower corner of the heel cushion as indicated at 6, especially ifthe sole portion of the cushion is to be sewed into the structure of theshoe in the manufacture of the same, this decrease in bulk of the edgeportion of the cushion not only facilitating the sewing operation andpermitting the use of the cushion without affecting the neat appearanceof the boot or shoe in connection with which it is used, but alsoproviding for lateral displacement of the rubber when the cushion issubjected to the pressure of the foot or heel, the beveling orchamfering of the edge of the cushion preventing the laterally displacedrubber from coming into contactwith the upper. of the shoe. By thismeans the lateral elasticity of the cushion is preserved, the same canexpand and contract l freely and the comfort of the wearer of the shoeis insured. The beveling of the corners of the heel cushion causes thesame to accord with the rounded contour of the interior of the heel .Iportion; of the shoe'at the point where the heel joms the upper.l

' My invention may be carried outA in a cheaper although not quite soeffective a manner as that above described, by molding or otherwiseforming the sponge rubber in strips of the desired width and thickness,and provided upon their upper and lower faces with integral layers 2,composed of rubber of close texture, and afterwards cutting from suchstrip by means of suitable'dies the desired sole or heel cushion. A striprepared in this way for the manufacture o heel cushions is shown inFig. 9, and sole andheel cushions made in this way are illustratedrespectivelyin Figs. 3 and 4.

As both the u per and lower faces of sponge rubber cus ions made inaccordance with llmy invention present smooth surfaces of close texture,strips of leather, cloth or other material can be readily securedthereto by paste or cement, as may be necessary in the construction ofan insole, heel pad, or

other article in which the sponge rubberl pervious to air, the upperlayer following the rcontour of said' de ression or recess.

3. A spon e ru ber cushion for boots or shoes consisting of a mass ofsponge rubber completely inclosed within a thin surface la er or coatingof rubber impervious to air w ich is integrally combined with saidsponge rubber mass.

4. A sponge rubber cushion for boots or shoes consistlng of a, mass ofsponge rubber with beveled edge and indented top, said cushion having athin surface layer or coating of rubber 1m ervious to air whichcompletely incloses t e sponge rubber mass and 1s integrally combinedtherewith.

5. A slip insole for boots or shoes consisting of a cover of leather,and a sponge rubber sole and heel cushion, each having thin surfacelayers of rubber impervious to'air to one of which the cover is secured.

6. A slip insole for boots or shoes consisting of a cover of leather,and a sponge rubber sole and heel cushion, each having thin surfacelayers of rubber impervious to air Ato one of which the cover issecured, the heel cushion having a surface depression and the surfacelayerfollowing the contour of said de-4 l FRANK P. MCINTYRE.

yWitnesses: v HAMILTON D. TURNER, KATE A. BEADLE.

